BOX SCORE

BOX SCORE

RADFORD, Va. – Following senior Megan Rhodes' (Blacksburg, Va./Blacksburg) goal just 3:15 into the match, the Radford women's soccer team exploded for eight first-half goals, including four within 2:27, to defeat Southern Virginia, 8-0, Friday night in the 2011 season opener.  

Rhodes, co-captain of this year's squad, received a long pass up field from Julie Ruh'e (Monrovia, Md./Urbana) and buried it in the lower right net.  

“It was exciting to get on the scoreboard early.  We worked it around well and were able to get opportunities so I just wanted to make the most of mine and set the tone for the rest of the game,” commented Rhodes.

Exactly ten minutes later, Ruh'e netted her first goal of the year on a through ball from Rachel Conway (Kitchener, Ontario/Forest Heights Collegiate).  The duo would quickly replicate the play just 17 seconds later to make the score 3-0.  

“When I moved into the midfield more this spring, our chemistry started to grow and we're glad it continued this early into the season,” said Conway.

“I thought we all connected well tonight,” said Ruh'e.  “I think we're going to be really good this year when we know for sure how each other plays.”

Ruh'e matched her production from a year ago against the Knights with two goals and added the assist.  Much like last year, her assist came on the first goal of the season.

Adding to the offensive outbreak, junior Mary Wiley (Radford, Va./Radford) and Conway added two more goals, making the score 5-0 by the 13th minute.

Other goal scorers for the Highlanders were Chelsea Hayes (Forest, Va./Jefferson Forest), Krissia Vasquez (Bowie, Md./St. John's College High) and Kathryn Johnston (Fairfax, Va./Robinson).

“It was good to get a lot of players on the field tonight and they did well,” mentioned head coach Ben Sohrabi.  “We scored a lot of goals and going forward, this win built a lot of confidence, especially with a tough test in Ohio State coming up on Sunday.”

The Radford defense did an outstanding job of keeping the ball out of Southern Virginia territory and didn't allow a shot the entire night.  

The Highlanders held the decisive advantage in shots, 22-0 and corners, 10-1.  Next up for Radford will be 2010 Final Four participant and No. 8 Ohio State.